Sharon Jones the Grammy-nominated funk and soul singer has died at the age of 60 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

The musician passed away in New York on Friday, her manager said in a statement.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Sharon Jones has passed away after a heroic battle against pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by her loved ones, including the Dap-Kings."

The lead singer of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, found success after releasing an album at the age of 40, earning a Grammy nomination in 2014 for best R&B Album for 'Give the People What They Want'.

The big-voiced soul singer was diagnosed with Stage 2 pancreatic cancer in 2013.

In an interview with U.S. based media organisation NPR in July Jones described her return to singing after surgery and performing after chemotherapy.

"That's my therapy. Being onstage, it's like this cancer is here and I have to take the chemo but I want to perform."I'm going to keep on keeping on as long as I've got my health and strength, and God gives me that will to do it".

Icons from the world of music have been sharing their tributes to the late singer. Mark Ronson described Jones on Twitter as "one of the most magnificent, gut-wrenching voices of anyone in recent times".

Chaka Khan described the singer as "the real deal" and sent her condolences to Jones' family.

Her story was told this year in a Barbara Kopple documentary called "Miss Sharon Jones!"

The film documents her transformation into cancer patient and follows her musical comeback to a singing force.